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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



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PLUm * GROWING, 



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-I-I4PHAS COPE.- 



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BY 



EtlPHJIS • COPE.- 



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yi -;- Kogerg, OMo. -jj 



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MAh 23 ioub 7- 



COPYRIGHT, 188S, BY THE AUTHOR. 



NEW LISBON, OHIO: 
THE lUTCKEYP: STATE PRINT. 

1 888; 



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Index. 

Situation. - - - - - - i 

Soil, - - - - - - - 3 

Varieties, ___.-- c^ 

Planting Time, ii 

Care for the First Three Years, - - 13 

Subsequent Care, - - - - 16 

The Curculio. - - - . - 20 

How to Plant and Care for a Few Trees, 25 
How to Care for an Orchard in Fruiting 

Time, 27 

Plum Rot, - - r - - 31 

Black Knot, 36 

The Borer. 39 

Varieties Further Considered, . - 41 



Pref'dCP. 



^jV^Y EXCUSE for prescntin<^ this li 
J ^ volume at this time is the want on 



little 
the 

part of many who have plum trees and have 
not the time nor inclination to enter into an 
extensive study of the obstacles in the way 
of plum orrowing, of a book simple to the 
planter and low in price. Avoiding profes- 
sional work, yet indicating our manner of 
labor and care so fully that we believe it will 
enable those who have plum trees, or who 
contemplate planting, to be successful if they 
will follow the rules laid down herein. 
ELIPHAS COPE, • 
Plum Grower, Ro(,eks, Ohio. 



VhUn * TI^EES. 



THE SITUATION. 
/^wS AGAINST the i^ractice wliich \vc were 
J^ formerly taught, that fruit trees should ])e 
planted in sheltered places, the experimen- 
tal evidence is most C()nclusi\ely to the con- 
trary. Our fruit trees should be planted in 
exposed places, and our care for them should 
be such that they may be well set and per- 
manent in their places, and by this means, 
besides other advantages which can be nam- 
ed, we escape the insects which have sought 
the shelter, and the still, hot atmosphere 
thereabouts. We do not mean by exposed 
places, that trees should not be protected 
from the ravages of stock, or anything that 
would in any way injure the tree, but that 
we give preference to setting trees on the 
higher ground where the air most freely cir- 



2 

dilates, or where the woods or many trees 
will not hinder the free moving of the air. 

Level ofround mav be said to be the most 
convenient and best situation for fruit trees. 
A southern slope is better than a northern 
hillside if the tree has proper care. Other- 
wise, if the tree is left to care for itself, then 
the north hillside is the better. As a rule, 
we prefer to plant on an eastern slope, or 
hillside, than to the west. And this rule will 
hold good except in case of a cov^e or a shel- 
ter from woods, or anything which tends to 
hinder the favorable circulation of the air. 
By experience we conclude that trees so 
sheltered make trees in an undue time, and 
out of proportions ; are not so hardy, will not 
live so long, and are very much more troub- 
led with insect life. 



SOIL. 
^^HE soil has very much to do in a reo^ular 
>-^and annual crop of fruit That which un- 
derlies the soil already worked, may be of 
such nature that although the tree is cared 
for, yet in a dry season, or in the dry part of 
the season, the moisture will not raise in it. 
For instance, a soil of 7 to 10 inches cover- 
ing a slate or hard pan of any kind, mav with 
good care yield a crop of fruit every other 
year and live a long time, while a clay soil 
of some feet in depth will with the same care 
make an annual yield. A soil in which the 
moisture will raise is a soil which the roots 
will penetrate. And if it be a natural strata 
like the clay into which the roots can go deep, 
we may in this expect to get a satisfaction in 
planting provided the roots are not rob- 
bed by some other plant, or the branches de- 
prived of the wind and the sun. 

We have grown splendid crops of plums 
on high level ground, and upon all hillsides, 
and upon clay ground, upon slate, upon fire- 
clay, upon soapstone, upon lime, upon sand 
and upon wash. But we have not received 



4 
annual crops from anv onK those ^^rown on 
deep, heavy chiy. The trees here are per- 
manent medium size of reii^ular growth, and 
a fair specimen of fruit. 



VARIETIES. 
T^HE plum the same as other kinds of fruit 
vi' shows many varieties, with marked differ- 
ences in like kinds. Of the Damson, we 
have the small size and large size, and the 
earlv and late varieties. We regard the early 
Damson plum as unprofitable. They are not 
as good" in quality, neither will they com- 
mand as high a price as the ones ripening 
after the time of frost. The small blue Dam- 
son plum which ripens late in the fall, will, 
because of their richness, always be in de- 
mand. We believe the late blue Damson 
plums will give satisfaction with proper care, 
and that they should not be greedily picked 
off. as is the case too much, until they are 
fully matured. 

The Shopshire Damson is of fine size, ri- 
pens late, and is a most excellent fruit, and 
the only hardy Damson plum for field cul- 
ture. It unites readily on peach stock on 
which it appears so far to do w^ell. 

There is no plum that has yet proven so 
generallv successful as the Lombard plum. 
Perhaps it is because they set such an enor- 



mous quantity of fruit. And further, be- 
cause when the curculio begins on a tree thev 
want to take it ; that this variety is found 
fruiting. Because when a Lombard tree un- 
der certain circumstances has set only about 
what it could handily ripen, they are no more 
spared than other kinds. If the. Lombard 
plum tree is properly cared for in fruiting 
time, about three weeks after the plums are 
set, they will cast perhaps the half of their 
fruit to the ground, which saves thinning of 
fruit. This variety is much more subject to 
the Black Knot than most varieties. Nearly 
as much so as are the Damsons. The Lom- 
bard plum tree will not unite with the peach 
stock, neither will most ot the Damson var- 
ieties. 

The Geuii plum, which really is a Dutch 
Damson cannot be united oii to peach stock. 
This Geuii plum also is quite a subject for 
the Knot, and it is a great grower. It makes 
the largest leaf, and literally tills with fruit. 
But it is less hardy than the Lombard in its 
branches. 

The McLaughlin plum should go with the 
Lombard. It is one of the best varieties for 
field culture, It is a size larger than the 



7 

Lombard, about the same shape, a little dul- 
ler in its color, and while the Lombard is 
somewhat red, this plum is more given to 
]:)urple, and in fact when there are but few 
on a tree it becomes almost the color of a 
Damson plum. In many instances just be- 
fore ripening it shows a russet yellow, chang- 
ing to a dull purple when the tree is loaded. 
It is the most even and solid growing tree 
that r have found, producing a top like an 
apple tree. It grows complete on peach 
stock, and will give the best satisfaction on 
upland thin soil. There will be strong ob- 
jections to its being planted on other situa- 
tions. Our crop of McLaughlin plums the 
past vear which was estimated at So bushels 
before picking, reached 135 bushels neat, and 
the last picking just closed with the first 
picking of Lombards. Planters should be 
careful in setting trees of this variety. It 
has been sold under different names. We 
have sold many trees under this name. It is 
a purple bloomed plum and ripens between 
the loth and 20th of August. 

We trv to raise and keep on hands most of 
the best varieties of plum trees for sale, as 
the Lombard, Pond Seedling, Imp. Gage, 



Magnumbonum, Gen. Hand, Genii, Dam- 
sons and Prune Plums and a host of other 
varieties, but find that the McLaughlin, and 
some other varieties which are not of so 
much importance as the McLaughlin, mav 
be misnamed, and are sold honestly by re- 
sponsible nurserymen so. Now, we have no 
further proof that we have the McLaughlin 
true, more than that our trees we believe an- 
swer the description of the original tree. 

The native plums should not be planted 
but sparingly, only when they have been tried 
and given satisfaction. North of 40 degrees 
latitude we question if thev will give satisfac- 
tion or remuneration for la])or. 

The large red plums are not apt to give 
the quantity of fruit that the small or me- 
dium varieties will show, and although finer 
for canning are coarser in grain and do not 
possess the quality for present use. Their 
great beauty will get for them a high • price, 
and we have received a fair degree of satis- 
faction from the Pond Seedling plum. This 
variety is perfectly hardy and produces the 
largest plum grown. 

The large yellow plums have not failed 
also to command a high price. The General 



9 
Hand is a very fine plum. But among this 
class if care is given we believe the Yellow 
Magnumbonum is not only one of the most 
productive, but also one of the hardiest of 
plum trees, although no better than Pond 
Seedling for present use of the fruit. 

It is with the green plums that we get the 
best fruit for eating from the tree. Fine 
grained and sugary they make the best of 
butter also. The Imp. Gage, although 
when fully ripe it is not altogether a green 
plum, is fairly hardy, the tree is large and 
productive, perhaps one of the best of this 
class. 



The white plums are the best for culinarv 
purposes, all things considered, and perhaps 
should command the highest price. The 
variety which we fruit under the name 
of Washington has not proven hardy. 
They are a beautiful large whitish plum, 
with juice as nice as honey, and are re- 
markable for their mildness. The trees 
mostly have died, and we are now trying an- 
other variety under the same name, the char- 
acter of which we cannot now speak. Con- 
sidering that there are hundreds of varieties 
of plums, and different varieties, somewhat 



lO 

differing, classed under the same name, we 
hope to obtain in a class what we desire. 

A very rich preserve may be made from 
the prune plum, or from the Damson. But 
perhaps a nicer, and to an unprejudiced taste 
a better preserve may be made from many 
other varieties with the same treatment. For 
butter we strain out the skins and seeds, and 
find the medium sized plums satisfactory. 
In canning, the fruit should be sweetened to 
taste when put up, the fruit boiled in 
the syrup, as many have ignorantly con- 
demned the cooked plum bv presuming that 
sugar cast in the dish will suit to the taste 
this most wholesome and desirable fruit. 
The tartness of the plum requires^ that it l)e 
met to the seed with the sweet. And con- 
sidered with other fruit it is not costly as 
some have supposed, since a bushel of plums 
will can about that many quarts. That a half 
bushel of plums canned up fifteen quarts, has 
more than once been said, w^hich is more than 
a whole bushel of peaches will can. And 
one quart of plum<; will nearly equal two of 
peaches when served. If this rule of count- 
ing Jbe true one bushel of plums should equal 
nearly four bushels of peaches in price. 



II 



PLANTING TIME. 

/|)wS A Rl'LE I would advise planting in the 
^ spring of the year. Not because it will give 
the best results with care, but that the buyer 
may be safer in his planting. The best time 
to reset a plum tree or any fruit tree is in the 
late fall or 'early winter after the frost has 
fully prepared the tree for winter. Trees re- 
moved this time of year without injury to the 
fiber roots by too much exposure will not 
lose anything. Rut as most nursery stock 
require freezing to drop their leaves, and ri- 
pen up the branch for w inter, and tree men 
are anxious to get their stock out of the reach 
of the freeze, this stock has got to be stripped 
of its leaves, called by nurserymen stripping. 
Trees that have been stripped by hiuid are 
objectionable, as are also trees whose fiber 
roots have been subjected to any degree of 
freezing. 

In accepting plum trees for planting, if 

the branches are light and fine, cut off a limb. 

; the heart of it be brown or dark color this 

tree is objectionable. A plum tree to pay 

for planting should have a full round limb 



12 

ofi'een throuo^hout, full bud with heavy shoul- 
der. Many plum trees have been put on the 
market which have been a subject of drouth. 
The hole for setting the tree is not apt to be 
too large or too deep, or is there apt to be 
too much strong soil, leached ashes, or bones 
put in the ground on planting the tree pro- 
vided you do not intend to give any further 
care. But if the tree is to have proper care, 
see that the roots are all got under and pure 
soil well firmed about them. Keep manure 
from the roots, and for a top dressing ashes 
or coal dust is valual^le and will keep down 
weeds. And the general rule is to trim all 
side limbs, leaving the main branch, and so 
set that at the soonest possible time it may 
cover its body with branches aud most par- 
ticularly to the southwest. 



13 



CARE OF TREES FOR THE FIRST THREE 
YEARS. 

fF A TREE is hardv at the end of the third 
year after phmting. it may after that be ex- 
pected to give satisfaction. It turns out in many 
case^ that about the third year from planting 
even the hardiest trees find something wrong 
with them ; that the fourth year after plant- 
ing the tree instead of growing is simply 
dead, or nearly so. I am sure if these trees 
had been handled the fall before, they would 
have been found light and rattling. The 
amount the soil has been worked even in set- 
ting the tree is quite sure to hold a moisture 
for two years. If during the third year from 
the first working or moving of the soil, this 
soil is not touched it will become sufficiently 
solid to transmit heat from particle to parti- 
cle. And during the hot summer, as the last 
of July and August sun bear upon this work- 
ed and settled soil, the effect of the heat will 
be carried as deep as the root, and the soil 
will be robbed of all the moisture which it 
should have to sustain the tree. So that the 
amount of moisture that is required to keep 
up the leaf and the branch, in a hot atmos- 



H 

phere reduces the tree to a state of worth- 
lessness which is easily distinguished from a 
tree of the same kind whose roots are stand- 
ing in a soil not lacking in moisture. AVe 
here state that this is the direct cause of yel- 
lows in peach trees. We have never seen 
the yellows on peach trees with proper care. 
Let him who will object to our experrence 
dig down by a tree in h(H August weather 
where weeds and gi^ass are standing around 
and see if he will not acknowledge our prac- 
tice ; yes, and wonder how those leaves can 
be keept gi'een with a soil dry deep down as 
this must be. Such trees when they have re- 
ceived the stroke will generally come out the 
following summer, but cannot grow much, 
and at best show but a yellow leaf. The 
plum mostly dies outright, although it is not 
uncommon even for them to show a coating 
of yellow leaves before they die. 

Some soils the moisture rises in, but any 
soil can be kept moist by keeping the surface 
mellow, which may be done either by work- 
ing or by mulching. Then a tree should be 
kept straight. Should it get to leaning with 
the wind, the time to straighten it is in the 
spring ; stack plenty of dirt around it until it 



15 

holds this position. Keep down all sprouts 
and cut off such branches as are straggling, 
or that go beyond the limits of convenience 
or care for the tree. 



SUBSEQUENT CARE. 
T IS NOT out of the order that a tree the 
fourth year after plantings puts on a full 
load of plums. It is a question whether or 
not it is best for a tree to bear so youno^. 
We are sure it is not g^ood without the tree 
is under proper care, since itwill most surely 
hinder the tree from attaining to full propor- 
tions. A full crop of plums on a younjr tree 
sets the size, or in other words, causes the 
tree to enter in life as a full grown tree and 
thereafter will attain like proportions in 
growth. We have no objections under 
])roper care to the smaller trees. While we 
grow them closer together, say only about 12 
or 14 feet apart, we can also gather most all 
the fruit from the ground, and also catch the 
curculio with much greater ease. It is a 
question if all soils can be held in shape to 
grow these small trees. The nearer, how- 
ever, that the soil returns to the state of Na- 
ture in which it was when the woods stood 
over it, the hardier and more satisfactory the 
orchard will be. 



There is 



doubt but that the burden of 



17 

the tree is to perfect the kernel which the 
pulp of the fruit surrounds ; and I question 
in a full crop if it can, without great danger 
to the tree, except the soil is covered, or has 
a retreat from the continued effects of the 
hot sun. Boards, buildings, bricks, or any- 
thing that will catch the rays. I doubt if 
there is anything however that will give the 
returns which a generous and continued use 
of the hoe will do under e\ cry part of the 
tree which the drag or cultivator may not 
get at. ^V c[uart can of salt cast under each 
tree before the hoe begins, every year or two, 
gives advantages in more than one way. 
Those insects know where to get better for 
themselves than we may tell them, and they 
know where to not get ; and they do not need 
us to tell them of a soil that will not pro- 
duce them congenially. We understand that 
an inch of soil thoroughly pulverized all over 
every part of the ground under a tree, with 
the balance of the orchard cultivated, will 
retain that life and moisture which the inex- 
perienced has not conceived. However, we 
do not care to have the ground hard, pro- 
viding it is clean of all weeds or grass dur- 
ing May and the first of June, or when 
the curculio is most effective in his work. 



Cut off all water sprouts, (except there is 
need of a limb) which sometimes make their 
appearance in profusion, and let all manures 
that may be used be cast in the fall and hoed 
or cultivated in. Perhaps the best results 
will be found from a liberal use of potash 
and bone. Bone must be used. The 
many seeds which the tree must perfect 
demands it. It is not uncommon to 
kill trees by putting- barnyard manure in 
ciuantity arovind them in the spring. We 
have done the like. Or to begin to work 
them in hot summer with the plow when they 
have not had proper care for a time. To in- 
duce bearing, and to hinder the excessive 
gi"owth, and produce hardiness in a tree, 
there is nothing better than to plow as close 
to the tree at one side as the tree will seem 
to permit, and that deep, cutting all the roots 
possible. But in no case do this only in 
early winter. The following summer a few 
furrows thus plowed to the tree will fill full 
of fibrous roots which will be a great stay. 
Moreover, the tree will by root pruning not 
make long strides of growth which is always 
an uncalled for burden under the August 
sun. Trees which have failed under the 
power of the hot sun, and which have thereby 



19 

received a perpetual injury, should not be 
propaj^ated from, since trees giovvn from 
buds taken from these sickly trees are the 
Sfet or inheritors of this- constitutional weak- 
ness and must necessarily be more liable to 
the effects and are less capable to withstand 
the same power which subdued the parent 
tree. 



20 



OF THE CURCULIO. 



J^HE enemy of the plum tree in propagat- 
^— ' ing itself by way of the seed, is the cur- 
culio. The curculio, by nature, seeks to de- 
velop itself in one of its forms in the plum. 
The plum is a direct home and perfection 
to its purpose. From a little nit deposited 
under the skin of the plum it hatches into 
a worm in favorable weather in about seven 
or eight days, and makes its home in the plum 
until it fully develops in this worm or larvae 
state, driving as a rule straight ahead as well 
as it can in the green pulp of the fruit. The 
plum, by its work, becomes its victim and 
must go from the tree by common laws, and 
is lost, while the further purposes of the cur- 
culio are only enhanced. 

If we want to raise plums we want to know 
the ways of this little bug or beetle so that 
we mav successfully stand between him and 
the plum. For there is no question that if 
the season is favorable and the soil congen- 
ial, that he will bounce every plum on the 
tree in his reproductive proclivities ; and it is 



21 

really surprising- how bright and agile he 
seems as vou watch him moving up to his 
business. To those who have not seen him 
let them spread a table cloth under a fruiting 
plum tree in the latter part of May, give the 
tree a sudden, solid jar, then look upon 
the cloth and you will most likely catch sight 
of a little beetle, near the size and color of a 
buckwheat grain, with a probocis like an 
elephant's trunk which he uses to make a 
new moon on the plum. This is him, per- 
haps playing 'possum already ; leave him 
alone and he will run off like a diminutive 
elephant. 

This curculio, like the striped cucumber 
biig, is sensitive of heat and cold. In the 
cool morning it can not fly. In the heat of 
the day it is excellent on the wing. There is 
therefore no use bothering about him when 
it is hot, sav 80 deg. Fahrenheit, since he is 
easily scared and will fly right out ; and there 
is no way to keep him out then without you 
stay by the tree more than you will like ; else 
make the plum and branches offensive ; else 
keep the soil such that it will not further 
his purposes. All things considered, there 
is none of these we have found to be sue- 



22 

cessful alone. Of the curcuHo, its life and 
habits, there is sufficient written, and it is 
the etomologist's work. We want however 
to show how to keep him off of the plums. 
We do make a curculio catcher of our own 
invention, and by having our trees in proper 
shape we can speedily ^ind most surely catch 
them while they are in the dormant state. 
This is before the heat of the sun makes 
them active. About one hundred trees per 
hour can handily be cleared of all insects 
injurious. This work begun with the morn- 
ing twilight is the most pleasant and surest to 
make perfect work. We put say two quarts 
of new lime in a half bucket of water in a 
wooden pail. This bucket is left in the 
centre of the row. From there we go to the 
end and back the next row to it. The in- 
sects are lodged in the center of the catcher, 
and dropped into the lime water. Passing 
to the other end and back the next row, and 
as before the insects are dropped into the 
water and stirred. This water will be found 
useful at the foot of the tree when the work 
is done. 

By a convenient arrangement which we 
call a door the tree passes about to the center 



23 
of the catcher, which is Init a slight hindrance 
to the carrier, who can open and close it at 
will. The catcher, which rests on the ground 
at the foot of the tree, is carried by two 
handles under the carrier's arms, and is light 
and convenient to handle. The jar is a 
pole of sufficient length to jar the tree, 
large or small, as it may be. Near the end 
of this pole is a wooden pin through the 
centre. With the use of twine we make a 
hall of wadding on this. end, of at least eight 
inches in diameter, all sewed solid to its 
place, and bv this the tree or limbs as are 
required are jarred without bruising the bark 
on the wood. 

It mav be understood that we have heard 
of manv curculio remedies ; l)ut our experi- 
ence with him is such that we know that to 
get a favorable crop of fruit which is salable, 
and leave the tree in proper condition, we 
have to catch the bugs as a rule. We know 
there are cold wet springs which favor the 
fruit, and that the first coming of the curcu- 
lio has been very unfavorable to them, and 
that in such seasons the first and principle 
work of the curculio is but very slight ; and we 
are well aware that there are certain spots 



24 

and situations of land where he does not mo- 
lest the fruit but very little, and that circum- 
stances may cause situations to be offensive 
to him ; but we have yet to believe that an 
orchard will in an ordinary season bear a 
general crop of plums of any kind or variety 
whatsoever, without catching the curculio 
and killing them, and the time to catch them 
is when they are inactive as at early morning, 
when it will not require more than a couple 
of fair strokes with the jar to dislodge them, 
as experience will show. 



^:) 



HOW TO PLANT AND CARE FOR A FEW 
TREES. 

IN PLANTING a few trees let them be as 
^ near the form of a square as possible, so 
that the ground may be kept in a measure 
more clean. If convenient cast a fence 
around them, see that the hogs are in this 
enclosure the three weeks following the mid- 
dle of May, also the last three weeks of July. 
Let some oats, wheat bran, or shelled corn, 
be sown each morning under the trees for the 
hogs to hunt up. These will require but 
very little trouble beyond the proper care of 
the hogs. But circumstances alter cases, and 
it may be more convenient to use a coop in 
which is an old hen with a lot of chickens. 
If several trees, there should be more than 
one brood of chickens. In such cases as 
this it is required that the surface of the 
ground be cut clean with a hoe and if need be 
swept, and a Kttle bran scattered about un- 
der the trees. We do not doubt the efficacy 
of this plan with some care, since it would 
be offensive the same as the hog lot, and the 
curculio which are not caught cannot find 



26 

their home. If either of these plans can- 
not be had, then get a table cloth, sheet, or 
what is better, three or four yards of good 
brown muslin, divide it and sew the edges to- 
gether half way ; then tack slats around these 
edges to handle it by. And just befcn-e the 
calyx that covers the plum has passed off let 
the tree pass up to the center of this muslin 
catcher where it was sewed to, and with a jar 
as before described dislodge the curculio and 
burn them. Three times will rid them for a 
few days, when the same operation may be 
repeated in the morning, at evening, and the- 
next morning, &c. Again, it will be ob- 
served that all cool or rough weather, and 
also that the most of June and the first 'of 
July the curculio will not be found. The 
last of July will require much care again. 



I 



27 



HOW TO CARE FOR AN ORCHARD IN 
FRUITING TIME. 

^^ITE g^rouiul should be cleaned around the 
^-^ trees in the spring before the curculio puts 
in his appearance, and unnecessary limbs re- 
moved ; also all such limbs as would be in 
the road of the catcher. The trees, or at 
least a portion of them should be jarred while 
the blossoms are yet on them to catch such 
curculios as are to be found. The ground 
should be stirred in the spring before the 
moisture from the winter is out of the soil, 
and perhajDs the best thing to do it with is the 
one horse plcjw, and with care not to cut too 
man\- roots this tinae of the year. That 
which is not reached with the plow should 
be put in order with the hoe. This soil be- 
ing cut as above stated will be much easier 
attended to later in the season. As the little 
plums begin to show themselves see that the 
curculio are caught out of the orchard, and 
if there is negligence in this work it will be 
observed by examining the plum ; for as soon 
as a plum is stung the place will turn dark, 
and show a new moon, or properly said, a 



28 

crescent shaped incision near the ])lossom end 
of the fruit. This is done by the curculio, 
and the nit is deposited under the skin of the 
plum which is cut loose, and secures to it a 
safety which it could not have were it de- 
posited otherwise. 

If there is some fine variety of fruit which 
is wanted to be saved, it can be done even 
after it is stung by using the point of a knife 
or the thumb nail, and push off the skin of 
the plum within the crescent shape. This 
can be done speedily, and if you wish to see 
the contents of the nit press the thumb nail 
backward towards the stem upon the skin of 
the plum under which is the egg, and its con- 
tents will rush upon the surface of the plum. 
This work will not injure the fruit in the 
spring, as it will speedily grow over again ; 
l)ut such work will not do in the heat of the 
summer as it will be likely at such time to 
rot. After the orchard is once cleared of the 
curculio it will require repeated tests to see 
if he comes again. In such cases it will be 
necessary to go to the skirts of the orchard, test 
only the warmer and unexposed places in the 
orchard, or that part of the orchard nearest 
to other fruit trees, and in case but few are 



29 

found there will be no need to look fur- 
ther, and the main work will now be found 
around the edges of the orchard for a time. 
The middle of July, sooner or lat^r as the 
season mav require, (there will be four or 
five weeks previous to this date that curculio 
will be scarce), throughout the orchard the 
catcher should be used, as the curculio may 
b^ found now coming until the plums are 
picked. We have caught curculio after se- 
vere frost in the fall. It must be remember- 
ed that the main fight is to be waged on the 
curculio in the spring, and if successful then 
the battle is fairly won. 

Some trees bear more fruit than they 
should, not only for the good of the fruit, but 
for their own good. The question how to 
meet this is not handily solved. We have 
found it as hard on the tree to pick the green 
fruit from the limb as it was to ripen the 
fruit. We would prefer heading in branches 
with the knife which were overloaded. An- 
other season we will trim certain branches 
clean of fruit, leaving the others untouched. 
Above all this we prefer the perfect working 
around the tree, whereby it will assume 
strength to care for itself. Yet it so hap- 



30 
pens that certain trees fail to cast a portion of 
their unbearable load, in which case the knife 
should be freely used to save the tree. 



31 



PLUM ROT. 

tf^ERITAPvS there is nothing so vexatious in 
\ the plum business after all as the plum 
rot. Instead of getting a nice lot of plums, to 
see them all rotting instead of ripening. We 
observe that there are two kinds of plum rot 
we have to contend with. One is the rot 
from the calyx or covering over the little plum 
in May, the other is the rot before the ripening 
time in the latter part of July and August. 
This rot from the calyx is not universal, as it 
only goes with those varieties which have a 
heavy blossom. We have not seen the 
varieties with a light blossom and a thin 
calvx injured by it.. Damsons, the Lombard 
and the Geuii, most of the Gages, and many 
other varieties might be named which escape 
the rot from the calyx. But some of the best 
varieties will lose more or less in wet seasons 
even with the best of care, as the McLaugh- 
lin, Pond Seedling and all the heavy blos- 
somed varieties. McLaughlin, although one 
of the most profitable of all varieties with 
care, suffers the most from the calyx rot. 
This heavy fur-like coating over the little 



32 
plum seems so slow about getting off, that 
before the plum has lost his coat it generally 
gets caught in the rain. It does frequently 
prove to rain one or two days about that time 
of the year, and when this coating is loose 
from its natural place it is ready to decay 
and turns brown. The little plum at this 
season enlarges very fast, and a few days 
damp and rainy weather fastens it in the 
skin of the tender plum, and is equivalent as 
a rule to a rot. When such trees are in moist 
places, or sheltered places with dense foliage, 
this calyx is rendered tough in damp 
weather, and fastens itself on the plum, 
so that three out of four of the plums will 
be lost, which is equivalent to a failure for 
the season. In no instances have we had a 
failure only in such places as before de- 
scribed. J^v this it will be observed that it is 
better for the trees to have the sun and the 
air, and that the ground should be kept clean 
under the tree. But in case we find trees 
shut out from the sun, then move the obsta- 
cles as much as possible, following the rule 
we laid down. Much can be done in jarring 
the limbs and moving this covering off in 
dry spells. 

The most objectionable and universal plum 



33 
rot occurs just before the plums are ripe. It 
is a time of the year when heat will produce 
decay superior to the healing powers, and the 
effects of this decay is sensitive to the touch. 
In other words the rot grows on another plum 
reaching to its bounds the same as it grows 
in itself. We regard the sting of the curcu- 
lio at this season of the year as a two-fold 
danger, first because it endangers the plum to 
rot by opening its pores, endangering it to 
deadly particles by which it will begin to rot, 
and secondly, because of the nit in its devel- 
opment in the plum. 

This first danger is what we w ish to avoid 
in this chapter, and to do so we must also 
keep the fruit from the second danger; and 
in order to avoid the second we must see to 
it in time and not after the plums are too 
much rotten. Let the curculio be caught or 
let the plums rot. We for other reasons try 
to keep our trees clean, and find that in a 
term of years we are not troubled with a host 
of insects which were there when the first 
care was given. W^orms of all shapes and 
sizes, and many varieties of ants, bugs 
and beetles and spiders, seem to be gone. 
The green leaf louse or big black antemire's 



34 
nest, which would stop the growth of the 
twigs in the spring, millers and caterpillars, 
most all disappeared, since plum leaves have 
not, as might be understood, proved a suffi- 
ciency for them, all of which is no little thing 
in favor of plum growing. When this rot is 
seen on a plum the sooner it is removed the 
better, for it will be a hardy plum that won't 
rot with it if they can get together When 
this rotting first appears pick it all off, even 
though it is but a mere speck to be seen in the 
plum, and about two days after repeat the 
work again, watching it up for a fortnight, or 
until the stung fruit is removed. It will be 
observed that we have not advocated the de- 
stroying of the stung plurns. But on the 
other hand the catching of the curculio and 
the keeping of the soil in such care so that it 
will not be a nest for its further develop- 
ment. The Wild Goose plums when first 
introduced, were said to be curculio proof, 
and in fact many varieties have certain pleas 
for them of like character when first intro- 
duced. Considering the many styles and 
varieties of fruit which we have fruited, th^ 
planter may rest assured with us that to at- 
tempt to put upon him a curculio proof plum 
is a nonsense oi a nuisance ; and that a va- 



35 

riety may be said to be curculio proof only 
becaUvSe of the peculiar situation in which it 
is found, since we are sure that a variety of 
plums exempt from the attacks of the curcu- 
lio, as a rule must be a nuisance and not de- 
serving the name. 



36 



BLACK KNOT. 

©LxA.CK KNOTS on plum trees may be 
said to be another obstacle af]^ainst the 
phmting of this fruit ; and, indeed, many 
trees are lost, and others, most unsightly ob- 
jects because of this disease. It is a trouble, 
however, that does not affect varieties alike, 
since there are but few varieties which seem 
addicted to it. The Damson varieties give the 
most trouble, and the Lombard and Gueii 
are not so much affected, yet they require 
continual watchfulness. We have occasion- 
ally seen a knot on a Pond vSeedling or Mc- 
Laughlin, but have not seen knots on any 
other varieties, although we allow that any 
variety, without it be the natives, may knot. 
Yet we believe the three kinds named are the 
only ones that will require watchfulness. 
When there are knots showing on a tree cut 
them off and see that they are burned except 
in cases where it is necessary that the branch 
should remain. In this case, with a knife or 
some sharp instrument first remove all the 
knot visible ; second, cut out all the little 
white, round, porous specks which can be 



37 
seen : third, and last, observe a dark brown 
red streak in the snrface of the wood, reach- 
\n<j!; up or down from the knot, cut back till 
this will not be seen. When the above rule 
is followed the knot cannot come there again, 
and bv covering the cut w ith wax it will soon 
grow over. Obser\ e if the brown streak is 
left the knot will most likely break out anew. 
We do not find the knot troublesome on 
trees of regular habits or on trees that do 
not sport in growth. But excess in growth 
the same as excessive bearing means a time 
of diminished strength as well as a time of 
diminished life. Overgrown trees means 
soft wood, and overburdened trees means 
inferior life in wood. And the same in each 
case means more inviting to the enemy and 
less capable to withstand the enemy. 

The above is a true meaning and the only 
way to arrive at a satisfactory solution of the 
inarching of the enemy into the branches of 
our fruit trees. We therefore wish to be un- 
derstood that a tree in soil made right and 
under due care is a guard of itself and is 
clean from receiving, while a tree left to 
itself in an uncared condition to sport or to 
wilt will most likelv be found sheltering an 



enemy, the same ultimately producing what 
is truly termed disease, since it is no more 
clear. 



ti,(5)e:hav; 

^^ w hite w 



39 



OF THE BORER. 
E lost many trees by a little 
worm we will call it, which at- 
tains to near an inch in length, which works 
under the bark of the tree. This borer 
works on the body of the tree and most 
seriously effects those trees which are forked. 
To this end see that in planting time the 
trees are trimmed to one straight branch, 
upon which may come out the side limbs. 
Itjoften happens that the south side of a tree 
is affected by the sun's rays so that there will 
})e a spot actually killed, and that if this 
})lace is not cleaned off and waxed these 
worms will sodner or later get started in 
the injury, and if left alone will likely kill 
the tree during the coming summer. Per- 
haps the tree should be washed with a solu- 
tion of carbolic acid if there is serious trouble 
resulting thereby. 

This borer has done us serious injury, 
since many of our trees were left in planting so 
that there were two main branches, in which 
fork he seems most easily to get his hold, 
doing much damage to the iree before we 



40 

were able to dislodge him with the knife. 

We do not find it advisable to shelter the 

body of the tree with other than its own 

natural branches, since any close artificial 

protection is likely to result in a rough heavy 

porous bark which is not desirable like the 

clean tough bark fully exposed to the air. 

It is in the crevices of this rough porous bark 

that the miller deposits the nit which makes 

the borer. And it is only in case of the 

many nits and very fine worms which are 

likely to escape notice that we have advised 

the acid to destroy them. Perhaps there is 

no better month in the year than October to 

work with this enemy to the plum tree. 

Persons who fear the autumn leaf blight, 

wherein the branches ripen up and cast their 

leaves in early autumn, will find an actual 

enemy in this borer which works between 

the ground and branches. By our practice 

the leaf blight will not be found an injury. 



41 



VARIETIES FURTHER CONSIDERED. 

UR PURPOSE in this book is not so 





^-^ much to mark or distinguish varieties 
as it has been to indicate the proper care for 
plum trees. There are many good varieties 
which we are not enough acquainted with to 
speak of them in particular. There are some 
new varieties also for which much merit is 
claimed which w^e are just now testing. We 
believe the Wild Goose plum to be the best 
of the native varieties, and that it may profit- 
ably be grown where it will fruit. But as 
far north as Columbiana county, Ohio, it 
will not pay to gi'ow. Since this plum tree 
grows so well here and does not carry fruit 
much beyond the blossom, it has been 
charged that it should be planted with other 
varieties, as it is apparently a pistillate, or 
without fertilizing power. We do not ac- 
cept this theory, but believe the blossom is 
perfect, and on account of the cold it is ren- 
dered weak and insensible of the powers of 
growth, and thus the tree becomes abortive 
and the fruit is cast as soon as it comes into 
form. 



42 

We here give first a list of blue plums 
which may be successfully planted where 
plums do well, naming Shopshire Damson, 
Quackinboss, Geuii, Blue Imperatrice, Ger- 
man Prune. 

Purple and Purple Bloom Plums — Mc- 
Laughlin, Smith's Orleans, Richland. Ship- 
pers Pride, Duane's Purple. 

Green and Yellowish Green Plums — Im- 
perial Gage, Moore's Arctic, Reine C. D. 
Bavay, Spalding. 

Yellow and Greenish Yellow Plums — Gen. 
Hand, Jefferson, Huling Superb, Prince's 
Yellow Gage, Scuyler Gage, Magnumbo- 
num. 

White or Light Yellow Plums — Wash- 
ington, Coe's Golden Drop. 

Red and Red with Blue Bloom or Scar- 
let — Pond Seedling, Lombanl. Wild (Joosc. 
Red Gage. 

We might name many other desirable va- 
rieties. Bleeker's Scarlet plum, which is the 
Lombard, should not be confounded with 
Bleeker's Gage, which is a yellow plum, 
productive and good fruit. Some varieties 
are not hardy in body. This will be noticed 
in the Washington, Imp. Gage, and some 
other varieties not so much. Other varieties 



43 

arc not hardy in the branch while the body 
shows no failure. This is much noticed in 
the Duane's Purple, the Gueii, the Shopshire 
Damson, the Bradshaw, and some other va- 
rieties, more or less, the giowth of last 
year often being killed half way back. 

Other varieties the borer works in, while 
the ones named are not troubled by it. There 
is no varietv we have tried which the borer 
works on so much as the McLaughlin ; the 
Lombard next; the Washington and the 
Magnumbonum are not free from him. We 
have lost several good McLaughlin trees and 
some of the other varieties before we knew 
the white, creeping bark eaters were slowly 
working their way around the body, and in 
the crotch of the tree underneath the bark. 
vSuffice it to say, when we are awake to the 
demands of that which is before us to do, and 
understand the enemies which we must en- 
counter in the way, the victory is fairly won, 
since we are enabled to meet him upon our 
own grounds. 

The obstacles in the way of plum growing 
are doubtless in the way of the slothful. It 
can scarcely pay any planter to set plum 
trees in the face of these obstacles which he 
may but vainly hope to escape, without 



44 
he also proposes to care for them the 
same as a horse or a cow, to be cared for at 
the proper time. A man may feel more im- 
jDclled to care for his live-stock than to care 
for the live trees. Truly his feelings should 
not be so apace from humanity as to be easy 
with stock suffering by his negligence. But 
as far as the gain in dollars and cents is con- 
cerned, we do not question, by the examina- 
tion of orchards and fruits and fruit trees 
planted, that the loss through negligence on 
the part of not caring for the trees when they 
need feed and shelter, far surpasses to quiet 
the conscience of greedv man in case the 
whole substance and value of the neglect was 
set before him. 

We add in conclusion, that he who with us 
})elieves in attainments through victory not 
for the sake of greed, but for glory in victory, 
can see no objection to obstacles which he 
can overcome, but rather pleased with the 
obstacles lest he be found sleeping in the 
same bed as the slothful. There is there- 
fore no excuse in accepting a failure and 
drinking out of the same cup which a grum- 
bler takes up, when a clean bed can be had 
with that which is good in store. That which 
is best is in abundance and it will never run 



45 
out. And it is not very far from these bor- 
ders where that the wisest are found, and 
where the foolish are not found. 



•<F1N1S.!>- 



46 



We fill Send Complete in Every 
Respect a Model of Onr 

GURCULID CBTGHER, 

Delivered Free at our Express Office to 
any Address on Receipt of $2.00. 



This Model is a Diminitivk Ykt 



t^Tt 



nnnm 



UiVL U\j i 



•B- 



CATCl 






\Mth the Jar, put up in a small box 
and any person who can make a 
gate can make one by it — pur- 
chaser to pay express 
charges. 



J^v our Catcher 15 Trees can be Jarred 
and the Curculio Destroyed, all in ten 
minutes in common practice. 

ELIPHAS COPE, 

Rogers. Ohio. 



47 

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o< TO >> 

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